Episode 39: Supporting Helpers in Child Welfare: Simple Joy...Big Impact

In this episode, I’m talking with Lauren Welch, founder of Social Empowerment Texas, about what it means to support the people doing some of the hardest work in the child welfare and foster care system. Lauren is a foster and adoptive mom, and through both personal and professional experience, she saw a gap in support for CPS employees, case managers, investigators, supervisors, and support staff. So instead of only talking about what is wrong, she started building something to help. We talk about how supporting workers also supports families. When the workforce is overwhelmed, unsupported, and constantly turning over, foster parents feel it, parents feel it, and children feel it. Lauren shares how Social Empowerment Texas is creating small but meaningful moments of support, from appreciation pop-ups and car kits to refreshed visitation rooms and one-on-one encouragement through their Social Stars program.   Social Empowerment Texas information: Was born out of a place of care for the system and those that are affected by it - and the enormous trickle effect that caring, encouraging and empowering social workers provides.  www.socialempowertx.org lauren@socialempowertx.org  https://www.facebook.com/SocialEmpowerTX   #ChildWelfare #FosterCare #ChildWelfareSystem #FamilyAndChildWelfareSystem #CPS #SocialServices #Burnout #Retention #WorkforceSupport #SimpleJoy